I now have more banjos that I can possibly justify, except by selling off a couple. The most recent addition is a Goodtime Artisan, chosen for all the wonderful playability and quality it shares with my bass-line Goodtime, and also because of upgrades, including a more traditional finish, planetary tuners,…
There have always been people who promised to help musicians “get to the next level” for a fee. Sometimes they are legitimate. Sometimes they are not. Recently I’ve become personally acquainted with a number of folks who offer valuable, specific services. I’ve also seen friends and readers “taken” by people…
The music industry is fraught with hazards, even when you’re dealing only with the best and most professional people and companies. For example, you could get signed by a legitimate record company that loses a major artist and all the revenue that goes with her the next day, so they…
Just listed a barely-used Martin Backpacker with case & strap for $185 on Craig’s list. Almost immediately I got a response demanding I sell him my guitar for $100 because “that’s what they cost on eBay,” complete with a link to a listing that had an “initial bid” amount of…
By now, most of my readers know that I support several music-oriented sites, including CreekDontRise.com, SchoolOfTheRock.com, ClassicTrainSongs.com, and RiverboatMusic.com. You’ve also noticed that I have vendor links on many of my pages (especially the buyer’s guides like RiverboatMusic.com). In the interest of full disclosure, I make a little money if…
Recently, I’ve been in touch with a lot of musicians who are pursuing some dream of success, or at least of affirmation. And a number of them are shooting themselves in the foot in more ways than I can count. As you would expect, there are a number of youngsters…
Most people who think about trying to support themselves in the local music scene start and end with the bars that feature live music. And there are a bunch. But there’s a lot to be said for reaching audiences that don’t go bar-hopping, too. In my case, I had enough…
Although this question is a “no-brainer” for many Christian musicians, many others struggle with it, especially folks who came up through legalistic systems that label anything that isn’t distinctly ”Christian” as “of the devil.” I don’t have a “one-size-fits-all” answer to that question, but I have some observations and experiences…
Clark County, Ohio has a unique, charming, and informative Historical Center housed in the unique and charming former farmer’s market. It also has more than its fair share of “reenactors.” Part of that has to do with the nationally-known Fair at New Boston, a historical reenactment of an early 19th-century…
I was a folk-singer and rocker before I became a Christian, but I knew enough to know I had a lot to learn. So I asked my pastors for advice about a potential career in Christian music, at the same time I was also writing Evangelical songs and singing in…